Draft yoke



. YParana! neg.y 21,1926.

narra-in sra-rss l Laurea LEO GRANT sunnvnm F Nnvv YORK, N. Y., issie-Non KTo ATLAS STEEL' cnsr-lNG co.. 'Y

0F NEWYORILYN. Y., n .CORPORATION or NEW YORK.,

. "panini` YoKE.,

i Application rfiled July 12,

This invention vrelates to improvements in draft lyokes for railway carsand more particularly to the construction ofthe rear end or stop thereof for engaging 'the adjacent 6 follower ofthe cushioning mechanism.

Draft yokes of the character referred to 4are subjected to very severe strains, the front and rear stops thereof being in particular subjected togreat strain u on engagement 20 so ree'nforced that either side of the front or rear stop is liable to withstand the'entire `strain imposed thereon from the cushion mechanism, such constructions used heretofore have made necessaryv a'substantial in- 25 crease in the weight of the yoke and, furthermore, havebeen 'objectionable'- for the Vreason thatl the'reenforcing parts are` soV shaped that in ,casting the yoke shrinkage strains-are developed whereby the casting is weakenedk and tends to crack to materially i reduce the efficiency and durability offthe yoke. v Y

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, isl to provide an improved draft yoke of the .character referred to wherein the rear stop thereof is adequately reen-` forced so that in the event of tilting lof the vadjacent follower ofthe cushioning mechanism when the car is negotiating a turn the strain due to the'force concentrated atone side of the stop is distributed overk the same, and to providesuch ayoke4 which maybe readily cast in one pieceA and `without developing shrinkage strains, and which has advantages over suchvokes constructed heretofore as regards strength. and ruggedness ,of construc-V tion, durability, weight, and cost of manufacfture.

after appear.

` drawings, in which Other objects andv advantages will herein-l For the purpose ofillustratingthe invenshown in the 192s;4 seriaiN. Amilf/'73.

`:Figi 2 is aliplan view;I l Y Fig. 3 is a sectional view, takenl on the line 3 3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4'is a lsectional'viewtaken on the' "line 4 4 inFig..1; and

f Fig. 'is a sectional View, taken on the line 5-5in"Fig.1'.f.e` y f l f f.

lTheimproved; draft :yoke comprises lthe upper and lower longitudinal 'draft bars 10 and 1lV and the lfront andrear stops, designated generally in Fig. 1 bythe reference numerals 12 and 13,respectivel-y. lAs shown 'in Fig. 1, therespective rearv ends, 14 and 15 of the draft'bars 10fand 11' curve inwardly .toward and merge'together atxthe longitudinal axis of the yoke, these ends decreasling gradually in -lwidth rearwardly of the y0ke,.as shown in Fig. .2.

yThe rear stop 131comprises v arranged transversely'of bars 10-a'nd11 and formed integrally at its ends with the latter at the points 17 and 18, vthe plate beingl spaced from the bar ends 14 and 15, `and a conically-ehaped lreenforcing portion 0r member 19 disposed between plate 16 and the v.bar 'ends andmerging therewith atyits ends,

the portion or member v19 being arranged with itsilongitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the yoke, as shown. The end of portion 19 of larger cross-sectional area merges into'and is formed'or cast integrally with plate 16,. while the vother end of portion 19 of smaller cross-sectional area merges into and is formedor cast integrally with the bar ends 14 and15 substantially at their point of meeting on Vthe longitudinal' axis of the yoke. The re-enforcing portion v or member 19 is made hollow,I to provide therein the recess 20, the plate 16 and the bar ends 1,4 and 15'being provided with the openings 21 and 22'to .permit of ready removal of the core used in the casting ofthe lyoke to provide recess 20, the openings 21 Y and 22 also lmaking forlightness of construction. The recess'20 formed. 1n reenforcing portion 19 makes for lightness ofconstructhe( plate 16l tion without detracting from the strength of v portion 19 beyond an amount entirely adequate to withstand any actual use of the yoke.; v

Reenforcing webs 23 and 24 are disposed onopposite sides of thereenforcing portion 19 andv are arranged in' the vertical plane Y passing through the respective longitudinal strains sustained `inV axes of the yoke and portion 19, these webs merging with and-being formed integrally at their respective edges withl plate ,16, .the har ends ldand 1,5, and portion 19, as shown.

The' forward or front lend of the yoke shown is ofrstan'dar'd and we'll known construction, and comprises the vertically disposed spaced side cheeks 25 and 26 cast integrally with and connecting the adjacent front ends 27 and 28 of hars 10 and 11,'the respective rear edges 29 vandv 30 of cheeks and 26 providing a stop for engagement with the adjacent follower (not shown) of ,the ,usual cushion mechanism interposed hetween the yoke and vcar sills. The spaced cheeks 25 land 26 receive Vthe butt of the coupler shank (not shown), in the well known man-ner, and are provided with the Vlongitudinal slots 3lV and for receiving the usual retaining key Lfor holding the coupler and yoke in lassembled relation. Y

From `.the foregoing it will be seen that a draft yoke Yhas heen provided which 4is conifio panatively Vlight and which has a ,rear :end

Vconstruction.which is adequately reenforoed to withstand the severe ystrains imparted thereto Afrom the adjacent follower lof the vtypes off draftV yokes constructed heretofore.

Vhile hut one embodiment of the invention h-as'heen'shownand described, of course vvarious kchanges may 'he made such as in the sizezan'd proportion 4of kthe parts without deaartinfr from the s irit ofthe invention or4 the scope of the claims.

The Vinventionclaimed is:

l. A `draft yoke comprising upper vand lower longitudinal hars having their respective endscurved inwardly toward and merging lat the longitudinal axis of said yoke, and a "rear stop comprising a plate .arranged transversely of said'bars and connected at its ends to the latter and spaced from the .bar ends, and a conically-shaped reenforcing .portion disposed between' said plate and the har -endsan-d merging Yatits yends with kthe :latter and ,arranged vWidi "its longitudinal axis substantially' coincident .with the longitudinal "Said yoke- 'i A draft f ldwer -lenetud al barella-'vde .their resided' a dei compri-sins ,d Plate .a1-ranged Ytran,Sv-e1"sallyl @if Seid bars and Owned ntes-,Ially lat its ends with the latter and .,Spiidd `from the bar ends, a conicallyshaped reenforoing portionvdisposed between said .plate and kthe bar ends and varranged with its longitud'inal axis substantiallycoincident with vthe longitudinal axis of said yoke, the end of said portion of `larger cross-sectional area ymerdinof with and hein" formed inte 'rali f" .s .e Q. 5

yoke and said portion and merging .with and being formedintegrally ,at their lrespective Ledges with said portion and the bar ends and the 'adjacent face of said plate.

In witness whereof, I hereto aiX my signature. f

lLEO GRANT SULLIVAN.

Olie .Comprising v.1i-ieper and 

